Parents are one of the most important influences in positive child and youth development, yet too many caregivers, especially those in higher risk families, fail to receive supports that would improve parenting and family functioning. By strengthening parent/caregivers and their connections to resources, communities can improve child and youth…

Focus group findings from 34 African American parents in an urban southern school district unmask subtle and concealed aspects of involvement. In contrast to formalized school-sponsored parent activities, involvement is described by participants as their encompassing a physical presence at the school to monitor their children's behavior, receiving…

The National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities (NDPC-SD) was assigned the task of compiling, analyzing and summarizing the data for Indicator 2--Dropout--from the FY2007 (2007-08 school year) Annual Performance Reports (APRs) and the revised State Performance Plans (SPPs), which were submitted to Office of Special Education…

The National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities (NDPC-SD) was assigned the task of compiling, analyzing and summarizing the data for Indicator 1--Graduation--from the 2007- 08 Annual Performance Reports (APRs) and amended State Performance Plans (SPPs), which were submitted by states to the Office of Special Education…

The Austin Community Collaboration to Enhance Student Success (ACCESS) is a community collaboration between the Austin Independent School District (AISD) and public and nonprofit agencies. By implementing a number of innovative prevention and treatment programs to address the emotional, behavioral, and social needs of students, the ACCESS…

The influence of child and family sociodemographic variables on service utilization was investigated with infants with disabilities and their families from three states. Of the 157 infants and toddlers studied, 149 had some form of scheduled service for the 4 specific weeks examined. Of the scheduled service encounters, about 72 percent were…

This manual is intended to assist families of young children with disabilities in their child's transition from early intervention services to preschool or other educational services at age 3. It provides information about the transition process, federal and state laws that apply to transition, and options for services and program placements. The…

This publication consists of two research updates. The first, "Learning to Work: How Parents Nurture the Transition from School to Work," highlights conclusions from the study, "Lessons from Life's First Teacher: The Role of the Family in Adolescent and Adult Readiness for School-to-Work Transition," which offers an analysis of how families…

This practicum was designed to alleviate feelings of isolation experienced by parents and extended family members of 17 primary students with severe emotional disturbance (SED). Practicum activities included biweekly educative and social support workshops for the parents and extended family members; an educative newsletter; pre-implementation and…

Developed to provide assistance in the building of an effective home-based program for Head Start children and their families, this handbook may serve as a blueprint for parent-focused home visits that assist the child and family to meet their special needs. Chapter one focuses on the home visitation model for providing services to families and…

Thus far, research on family involvement in education has not fully explored how race, ethnicity, and cultural factors influence the expression of parental involvement in different community contexts. This paper provides a portrait of the involvement of Mexican-American parents in secondary schools located along the Texas-Mexico border. The study…

This qualitative study examined the perspectives of people with significant disabilities (N=23) and their family members about their overall employment experiences, outcomes, and expectations. Four focus groups were convened, two groups of people with significant disabilities and two groups of family members. Disabilities represented included…

This paper describes the involvement of Mexican-American parents in secondary schools located along the Texas-Mexico border. The study is directed toward strengthening parental involvement in school communities where cultural and linguistic diversity, poverty, mobility, and lack of English proficiency present challenges to both school staff and…

This document provides information designed to help businesses increase their involvement in supporting children and families. The first of three chapters discusses the impact of social changes on the work force, and lists benefits that accrue to businesses and families when businesses institute policies that support employees' families. The…

Intended for professionals working with people with mental retardation and their families, this manual begins with a summary of the principles and philosophy concerning family participation and agency responsibilities of the South Carolina Department of Mental Retardation (DMR). The importance of family involvement in determining the least…